Beer for Dinner

• 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
• 2 cans Great northern beans
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 med. onions, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, Minced
• 8 oz. Salsa Verde
• 2 tsp or more ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 5 cups canned chicken broth
• 1 can beer
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• salt to taste
• 3 cups grated monterey jack cheese
• Sour cream and salsa

Place chicken in large sauce pan. Add cold water to cover and bring to simmer. Cool until just tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool, cut into small pieces.

In large pot saute onions in oil until translucent. Stir in garlic, salsa verde, and seasonings and saute a couple of minutes.

Add beans, broth, and beer. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Add the chicken meat and 1 cup of cheese, stir until the cheese is melted and the chicken warmed through.

Season with salt to taste. Serve with remaining cheese, sour cream and salsa.

Thanks to WhiplashGirlchild

Labels: beans, cayenne, cheese, chili chicken, cloves, cumin, garlic, hot, onions, salsa, sourcream, stock

Posted by Steve at 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

• Extra virgin olive oil
• 2 pounds ground sirloin (or beef chuck, trimmed, if you prefer)
• 6 to 8 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large white onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 small can of green chili’s
• 6 tablespoons chili powder
• 4 tablespoons ground cumin
• 4 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6 - 8 dashes cayenne pepper, more if desired
• 2 (12 ounce) cans beer
• 1 cup strong black coffee
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes with puree
• 1 large tomato - coarsely chopped
• 3 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• Sour cream, for garnish
• Shredded cheddar cheese, for garnish
• Red onions, chopped, for garnish
• Limes, wedged, for garnish
• Oyster crackers or sliced baguette, for garnish

In a 5 quart pot, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and brown the meat, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove the meat. Add the garlic and onion, cook until soft. Return the meat to the pot. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne, 1 can of beer (use rule #486; one for the pot, one for me…), green chili’s, crushed tomatoes and coffee. Simmer uncovered at a low temperature for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Stir occassionally. Don’t let it dry out, add beer as necessary (see rule #486). Add chopped tomato, kidney beans and second can of beer. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour.

Serve garnished with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, squeeze of lime, or chopped red onions. Or all of the above.

Thanks to Common Place Book

Labels: beans, beef, cayenne, cheese, chili, coffee, cumin, garlic, onion, oregano, sourcream, tomatoes

Posted by Steve at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Adapted from Bon Appetit, Sept. 2002. From the Barrington Brewery in Mass.

• 2 cups stout (such as Guinness)
• 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch process)
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/3 cups sour cream

Icing:

• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

For cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with 1 inch sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper.

Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda and 11/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend.

Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean; about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack to cool completely.

For Icing: Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.

Place 1 cake layer on plate, Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake. Serves 12.

Link

Labels: cake, chocolate, cocoa, eggs, sourcream, sugar, whippingcream

Posted by Steve at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Beer Bread

Makes 1 loaf.

• 2½ cups flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 9½ ounces pale ale beer
• ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions, finely sliced (green part only)
• 10 ounces jalapenos, finely chopped (optional)
• 1 tablespoon melted butter to coat bread

To prepare oven, loaf pan: Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Lightly coat 9- by 5-inch loaf pan with vegetae oil spray.

To mix dough: Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add beer. Mix well. Add cheese, onion and jalapenos. (Note: Batter will be stiff.)

To bake bread: Transfer batter to prepared pan, spreading evenly. Brush top of bread with melted butter. Bake for 45 minutes or until bread is light brown. Remove from oven. Cool.

To serve bread: Cut bread into ¼-inch-thick slices. Put bread slices in broiler. Broil for 1 minute or until browned.

Asiago Cheese Dip

Makes 3 cups.

• 4 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, reconstituted in hot water
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• ½ cup shredded Asiago cheese, plus more for garnish
• ¼ cup green onions, sliced into ¼-inch pieces
• ¼ cup mushrooms, sliced into ¼-inch pieces

To prepare tomatoes: Squeeze all water out of tomatoes. Cut into fine strips. Set aside. (Note: It is important all water be removed from tomatoes, and they must be added last or dip will discolor.)

To prepare dip: In food processor, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, cheese, onions and mushrooms. Blend well at low speed. Add tomatoes. Mix slowly by hand for 1 minute.

To heat and serve: When ready to serve, heat through in microwave oven. Remove from microwave. Sprinkle with Asiago cheese. Place in broiler. Heat until cheese browns.

Thanks to Lynda at the St. Paul Pioneer Press

Labels: bread, cheese, hot, jalapenos, mushrooms, onions, sourcream, tomatoes

Posted by Steve at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post